Making a God of War (Uesugi: Legednary, Domination)

[Maltz]

Chapter 17. A Plot to Exploit

Kagetora: "Looks like we do not have to be afraid of Honganji for now. How about Kanto? Did you find Hojo's army?"

Suddenly, Naoaki showed a very mean grin.

Naoaki: "Here is where things get interesting. I was under the pretendence of a rogue ronin, you know, just don't shave my beard for two weeks and fake some chest hairs growing out of my shirt. I travelled to Kanto, but did not see much of Hojo's army there. Definitely less than 2000."
Kagetora: "That's odd. Hojo definitely has more than that."
Norimasa: "Where did they go?"
Nomi: "Obviously, they have started an invasion - but they are not coming to Ueno."

Nomi recalls his father Sadamitsu's warning.
Maybe Hojo wanted Nagao to detect its intention to attack Ueno.
So now Nagao's 2000 men is parked in Ueno, doing nothing for the past three months.

Naoaki: "So I put on a different make-up... my favorite travelling merchant, carrying a big, but empty bag in my back, and sneaked into Shinano. Do you know what I found there?"
Nomi: "Hojo Ujiyasu's army?"
Naoaki: "Good one, lady Kagetora! "
Norimasa: "Hey, only the Kando Kanrei can change people's name!"
Nomi: "It is ok. What about Hojo's army?"
Naoaki: " I am very sorry. Hojo's army was on their way to North Shinano, which was controlled by the Kiso clan..."

"What? Isn't northern Shinano controlled by Takeda?"

Naoaki: "Takeda made a mistake and their smaller army was crushed. Now they are back to square one in Kai."
Nomi: "I thought Takeda Harunobu is better than that..."
Naoaki: "Well, people make mistakes. Takeda Harunobu is famous for attacking again and again. He is not famous for winning again and again."
Kagetora: "OK..."

Naoaki: "There was rumor that Takeda Harunobu was killed in battle. I will have to verify that myself later. Anyway, back to northern Shinano. Hojo Ujiyasu's army had about 2000 men, but they are not all in one place, as the bigger army rushed to defeat Kiso, which was very much weakened by Takeda. Maybe Kiso is smart enough to retreat? Maybe not. Anyway, I met Maoko the Housekeeper on her way to Kiso for some kind of military access deal. It is out of my understanding why Kiso would like to make sure Nagao does not attack them... "

Nomi: "I see. So Hojo Ujiyasu's plot is to draw Nagao to Ueno, so Hojo can take Shinano and attack Echigo while we are away..."
Norimasa: "Echigo is in danger!"
Yaya:
Kagetora: "Why does Hojo want to attack Echigo, though? If I were Hojo Ujiyasu, I wouldn't stretch my territory this thin."
Nomi: "Right. Hojo Ujiyasu is the 'Lion of Sagami' is famous for his steady and conservative strategies. This is unlikely. We have to look deeper into this..."

Although it is a hot summer day, the air mass seems to cool down rapidly when Kagetora and Nomi dig deep into Hojo Ujiyasu's plot. The fate of Kanto will be decided soon - by a plot to exploit another plot. In order to be a contemporary of "Tiger of Kai" Takeda Harunobu and "Lion of Sagami" Hojo Ujiyasu, Nagao Kagetora has to work really hard as well.